Biophysical factors and agronomic practices associated with Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin contamination of maize in multiple agroecosystems in Ethiopia

作者：Temesgen Deressa, Girma Adugna, L. M. Suresh, Zelalem Bekeko, Joseph Opoku, Martha Vaughan, Robert H. Proctor, Mark Busman, Juan Burgueño, B. M. Prasanna · 发表于：Crop Science · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1002/csc2.21159 · 被引用次数：14 · 研究领域：Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food、Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases、Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics

Abstract In Ethiopia, Fusarium ear rot (FER) reduces yield, quality, and safety of maize and negatively impacts the economics of maize growers. However, there is almost no published information on geographic distribution, severity, or causal agents of FER in Ethiopia or levels of preharvest fumonisin contamination, biophysical factors, and agronomic practices associated with FER. Therefore, we surveyed 480 agricultural fields located in 10 Ethiopian zones to assess the incidence and severity of FER as well as agricultural practices and biophysical factors associated with each field. We also determined the concentration of fumonisin in samples taken from the fields. Results revealed that FER was prevalent with varied disease intensity and yield loss levels among the assessed zones. The highest percent severity index (PSI) was recorded in Mirab Wellega (33.2%), with a correspondingly maximum estimated mean grain yield loss of 13.6%, while the minimum disease severity 11.3% and yield loss 5.4% were recorded from the Ilubabor zone. Fumonisins (FB1, FB2, FB3, and FB4) were detected in 98% of the samples, and the levels ranged from 5 to 7517 μg kg −1 (mean, 540 μg kg −1 and median 82.4 μg kg −1 ). The mean fumonisin contamination of 1524.4, 1316.8, 744.5, and 742.6 μg kg −1 was recorded for Mirab Welega, Misraq Wellega, Assosa, and Hawassa zones, respectively. In total, about 11.3% of the maize samples exceeded the maximum tolerable total fumonisin limit set by the European Union i...